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16/07/2008
Council Workers On Strike In Pay Offer Row
Thousands of council workers are taking part in a 48-hour strike, in the largest campaign of industrial unrest in years.
The unions Unison and Unite said that they expected over half a million workers, including teaching assistants and binmen, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to participate in the strike, which was sparked by a row of a below-inflation pay offer of 2.45%.
The strike has forced some schools to close and affected refuse collection in some areas. Flights have also been cancelled at the City of Derry Airport in Northern Ireland, the City Museum and Art Gallery in Bristol have been closed and the Torpoint to Plymouth ferry service have been cancelled as a result of the strike.
Workers have also been taking part in protest marches in cities including Brighton, Cardiff and Newcastle.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services union, including driving test examiners and coastguard control room staff, are also due to take strike action in the next few days in a separate pay dispute.
More than 1,500 workers from the Driving Standards Agency are holding a one-day strike over pay, while around 2,500 staff from the Valuation Office Agency in England and Wales are working to rule today and tomorrow.
Around 10,000 Home Office staff are expected to strike on Friday, while around 5,500 employees from the Land Registry in England and Wales are expected to stage a walkout on Friday afternoon.
Staff from the Coastguard control room are also due to begin a 48-hour strike on Friday.
The unions are campaigning for a larger pay rise, saying that the rising food and fuel costs mean that the original pay offer is effectively a pay cut.
Unison's General Secretary Dave Prentis said: "The pounds in local government workers' pockets are turning to pennies.
"The costs of everyday essentials like milk, bread, petrol, gas and electricity are going through the roof - our members cannot afford to take another cut in their pay."
However, Jan Parkinson, Managing Director of the Local Government Employers (LGE), said that although they were willing to continue talking to the unions, they had "simply reached the limit of what is affordable".
(KMcA/JM)
The unions Unison and Unite said that they expected over half a million workers, including teaching assistants and binmen, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to participate in the strike, which was sparked by a row of a below-inflation pay offer of 2.45%.
The strike has forced some schools to close and affected refuse collection in some areas. Flights have also been cancelled at the City of Derry Airport in Northern Ireland, the City Museum and Art Gallery in Bristol have been closed and the Torpoint to Plymouth ferry service have been cancelled as a result of the strike.
Workers have also been taking part in protest marches in cities including Brighton, Cardiff and Newcastle.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services union, including driving test examiners and coastguard control room staff, are also due to take strike action in the next few days in a separate pay dispute.
More than 1,500 workers from the Driving Standards Agency are holding a one-day strike over pay, while around 2,500 staff from the Valuation Office Agency in England and Wales are working to rule today and tomorrow.
Around 10,000 Home Office staff are expected to strike on Friday, while around 5,500 employees from the Land Registry in England and Wales are expected to stage a walkout on Friday afternoon.
Staff from the Coastguard control room are also due to begin a 48-hour strike on Friday.
The unions are campaigning for a larger pay rise, saying that the rising food and fuel costs mean that the original pay offer is effectively a pay cut.
Unison's General Secretary Dave Prentis said: "The pounds in local government workers' pockets are turning to pennies.
"The costs of everyday essentials like milk, bread, petrol, gas and electricity are going through the roof - our members cannot afford to take another cut in their pay."
However, Jan Parkinson, Managing Director of the Local Government Employers (LGE), said that although they were willing to continue talking to the unions, they had "simply reached the limit of what is affordable".
(KMcA/JM)
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